Richardson and Kucinich didn't endorse Obama because he's the best. They thought about their future

[antiimperialist]

In my opinion, they endorsed Obama because he has a better chance of winning than Edwards. Richardson is hoping that Obama either picks him for Vice-president now or in 2012, or gives him an nice position in his government.
Same goes for Kucinich. Edwards is strong in Iowa but the prospects are bleak elsewhere. Richardson and Kucinich didn't think about you when he told his followers to choose Obama as 2nd choice. They thought about their futures.

[TeamJordan23]

1. Kucinich said Obama was the most sincere candidate yesterday. nm

[Bullet1987]

2. Richardson didn't ENDORSE Obama..

His campaign is simply sending memos to precinct captains to go to Obama if he doesn't break the 15%.

[MethuenProgressive]

3. Richardson DID NOT ENDORSE OBAMA

Just a scummy rumor started by Obama yesterday.
------------
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3932998&mesg_id=3932998
"Richardson Campaign Response"

Richardson Campaign Response (4.00 / 4)
Hi this is Joaquin with the Richardson Campaign and the rumor is false- there are no deals. These are typical last minute election shenanigans.
Joaquin H. Guerra
Richardson for President
jguerra-at-richardsonforpresidnet.com



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

by: Joaquin H. Guerra @ Wed Jan 02, 2008 at 23:02:36 PM CST

http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3032

[Adelante]

4. Do you have a link?

I wouldn't mind if it were started by Obama, mind you. Politics is politics. But I have yet to see proof that Obama started this rumor. If you have it, I would appreciate seeing it.

[Missy M]

5. Richardson did not endorse Obama....

very misleading subject line.

[antiimperialist]

8. Thanks. Last thing I read before I went to sleep was the Richardson "endorsement"

Then I came straight to DU to post this thread.
Actually I saw the Richardson claim that now turns out to be false, according to some of you, in Huffington Post.

My apologies to Richardson.

[NoodleBoy]

6. Richardson is much, much closer to Hillary Clinton than he is to Obama

in ideology, and also since he was a member of the former Clinton administration.

And it's just absurd to think Obama would ever ask Kucinich to be his VP or give him an administration job.

[Carrieyazel]

7. Why in the world would Richardson endorse a lame candidate like Obama???

I don't believe it. Barack should be the one endorsing Bill; oh, I forgot, he endorses crap like Joe Lieberman.

[MethuenProgressive]

10. He didn't, and is NOT sending out "support Obama" emails.

Nixonian Dirty Tricks by Dick Obama.

[antiimperialist]

11. I think Obama is a pretty good candidate. Just not as good es Edwards, IMO n/t

[rodeodance]

13. as far as I know it is a Rovian rumor (and it is working as planned).

[PATRICK]

9. I think it is too complicated

to attribute anything bad or wise to this. Edwards let DK down, deal or no back in 2004. I can't make anything out of anything in these details and "moves" and their candidates are not like committed delegates who will loyally swing their second choice. Many don't even know about these secondary endorsements. Obama offers possiblities open to influence whereas Edwards is either rockhard clear or not. You may be right that this has little to do with the voters than internal perceptions sending messages.

[flvegan]

12. Oh, brother. n/t

[redqueen]

18. Exactly. (nt)

[RufusTFirefly]

14. Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

I don't agree. Although I can see a connection between Obama and Richardson, I don't see a similar link with Kucinich. Despite explanations to the contrary (including from the candidate himself), Kucinich and Obama have very little in common. In fact, I bet that if someone did a poll of Kucinich supporters that the majority of them would list Edwards -- not Obama -- as their second choice.

I'm really not sure what Dennis has in mind here. Perhaps by being associated with Obama (however tenuously), he's hoping that his own campaign will gain added legitimacy in the eyes of voters who've been brainwashed by the MSM into believing that there are only two (maybe three) candidates on the Democratic side. Or maybe (upon edit), his primary goal in Iowa is to help deal HRC a setback.

[BenDavid]

15. The assumption obama or edwards is going to win it all. Excuse

me but after iowa and n.h. other then maybe s.c. for obama and illinois tell me where obama or edwards can win? I will state now as I did in 07 that it makes no diference whether HRC wins iowa or not, HRC will have a majority of the delegates by either the 15 or the end of feb.

[Adelante]

16. NOT ENDORSING

Kucinich is one story. He has given his support to Obama for the second round in Iowa for his own reasons and that's it. There is no caucus back-and-forth deal of any kind that I've seen. Kucinich has said he did it because he believes Obama is "sincere," relative to Clinton and Edwards. He knows he is nowhere in Iowa. He knows what support he might have been expecting has gone elsewhere. Sure, Dennis gets something as a politician and good for him, whatever it is. But it was not an endorsement. It was a horse trade.

If Richardson and Biden do ultimately decide to do a caucus deal it will be because they think it benefits them in future states. Why the hell else would they do it? But if that happens, it will still not be an endorsement. It will be because it allows them to proceed. And it will still be a horse trade.

[chascarrillo]

17. What cabinet position would Kucinich think he'd get?

Although an idealist, I think Kucinich is grounded enough to know that he's not going to get a cabinet position. He's still an outsider. He knows he's not going to be invited to be an insider.

I don't see any possible quid pro quo involving Kucinich getting a personal boost from President Obama. Try again.